Arne Mahle

Arne Johannes Mahle, 83, Minot, and formerly of Denbigh, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in a Minot nursing home.

Arne was born April 9, 1926, in Denbigh to Sever and Karina (Eikesdahl) Mahle. He was raised and educated in Denbigh, and as a young adult was employed by area farmers.

Arne was inducted into the Army on Oct. 27, 1950, and served as an artillery handler during the Korean conflict until he received his honorable discharge as a corporal Sept. 9, 1952. Following his discharge he was employed as a heavy equipment operator in the Minot area and at the Garrison Dam. Arne was once married to Valda Brummond whom he married on June 8, 1955, in Towner.

From 1962 to 1971, he was employed by Boeing on missile sites throughout North Dakota and by construction construction companies at Minot Air Force Base. He then was employed as a heavy equipment operator at the Coal Creek Power Plant and Coal Gasification Plant near Beulah, other power plants in the region and for Boeing. He retired in 1984 and continued to reside on the east edge of Minot for many years prior to moving to the Dakota Terrace Apartments in 2003.

Arne was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Surrey, VFW, American Legion, Sons of Norway, Surrey Senior Citizens and Operating Engineers Union for 35 years. He was a former member of the Eagles Aerie and Moose Lodge. He especially enjoyed camping, gardening, traveling, woodworking and leather crafting as well as playing steel guitar, keyboard and accordion and singing. He cut his first record with Duncan and Bill when he was 16 years old.

He was especially proud of his Norwegian heritage, traveling to Norway in 1984 with his sister Selma and in 1999 with Orrin and Morris Holen. He served as a volunteer for the first 25 years of the Norsk Hstfest.

Surviving family includes: his children, June (Kris) Spaulding of Minot, Raymond (Peggy) Mahle of Sioux Falls, S.D., Valerie (Ron) Burgard of Minot, and Michael (Amber) Mahle of Rapid City, S.D.; longtime friend, Vi Hosie; grandchildren, Shawn (Lisa) Olson, Chad Olson, Angela (Jamie) Chitolie, Allison Olson, Lori (Nathan) Iveland, Christina (Brian) Wagner, Mindy Mahle, Jessica (Mike) Merchant, Becky (Bryan) Banfill, Shawn Michael, Tyler, Sheridan, Michael and Madison Mahle; great-grandchildren, Emily and Elizabeth Olson, Patience and Melia Chitolie, Justice and Jordan Olson, Finn Iveland, Hannah and Hunter Wagner; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arne was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Selma Thompson, Nora Best and Anna Jones; brother, Magnus Mahle; granddaughter, Lisa Mahle; and great-grandson, Chase Olson.

Funeral service: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. in Hope Lutheran Church, Surrey.

Graveside service: Thursday at 1:15 p.m. in the Granville Community Cemetery.

Visitation: Today, Sept. 16, from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).